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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga
@wendytokunaga.bsky.social
1.6K followers 270 following 2K posts
Writer; Editor; Teacher @ Stanford's Novel Writing Certificate Program; Author of BRENDA BARKER'S NEXT CHAPTER (Blydyn Square Books, Feb 2026), MIDORI BY MOONLIGHT, LOVE IN TRANSLATION and more. MFA from USF. Award-winning cat servant. WendyTokunaga.com
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · Nov 15
So psyched to have signed a publishing deal with Blydyn Square Books for my new novel, Brenda Barker's Next Chapter! #amwriting #publishing #novels #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 5h
"To be a person is to have a story to tell." — Isak Dinesen
#writing #storytelling #quotes #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 6h
"After My Second Book Died on Submission, I Took These 4 Crucial Steps" janefriedman.com/after-my-sec...
#publishing #writinglife #querying #novels #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 6h
How to weave more voice into a query letter: nathanbransford.com/blog/2025/07... #writing #publishing #querying #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 6h
Writing Across Cultures: Inauthenticity Will Never Win You Readers: writerunboxed.com/2025/07/15/w... #writing #writinglife #crosscultural #publishing #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 6h
“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” — André Gide #writing #writinglife #quotes #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 7h
“Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” — Gloria Steinem
#writing #dreams #BrendaBarker #quotes #writingcommunity
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Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 7h
Begin your chapters in a way that draws the reader in. End your chapters with your reader wanting to read more by introducing a new complication. #amwriting #writingtips #novels #WritingCommunity
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Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 7h
5 Ways Repetition Hurts Your Novel: How to spot and fix those sneaky repetitions that weaken your prose.
blog.janicehardy.com/2018/06/5-wa...
#writing #editing #repetition #writingcommunity
wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 1d
"Stereotype: Older or younger adults are adorable or clueless. Reality: All adults deserve respect and dignity and to not be infantilized." — American Society on Aging #ageism #writing #BrendaBarker #ASaging #writingcommunity
wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 1d
In the beginning of your novel do you offer a feeling of forward momentum and emotional energy? This will keep readers reading.
#writing #novels #momentum #writingtips #writingcommunity
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Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 1d
Your Flight Will Be Delayed: Lessons in Publishing Patience: writerunboxed.com/2025/09/24/y... #writing #writinglife #publishing #writingcommunity
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Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 1d
The Pros and Cons of Writing for Anthologies: writersinthestormblog.com/2025/10/the-...
#writing #writinglife #anthologies #writingcommunity
wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 1d
"All writers know how hard it is to practice tough love on the children of our verbiage. Kick the silly, labored metaphor out of the house." — P. J. O'Rourke
#writing #writinglife #editing #writingcommunity #quotes
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Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 1d
Brainstorming "what if?" scenarios based on a story world, an obsession and a character can help you come up with the conflicts that will shape your novel. #WhatIf #amwriting #conflict #writetip #WritingCommunity
wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 1d
Why Bother Writing a Good Book? writerunboxed.com/2025/10/06/w...
#writing #writinglife #novels #writingcommunity
wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 1d
So nice to have a relaxing vacation in SoCal last week. Great Japanese food in Costa Mesa. Wonderful art in Laguna Beach. Lovely views in Corona Del Mar. Perfect weather!
#writing #writinglife #vacation #writingcommunity
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Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
“A tremendous number of possibly good and even brilliant novels never get read beyond the first few paragraphs or pages by agents and editors. Why? Simple. The stories don’t begin in the right place.” — Les Edgerton
#writing #editing #novels #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
When writing your novel, think in terms of what director Mike Nichols has said, that every scene can be categorized as a seduction, a negotiation or a fight. #writingtips #writing #novels #WritingCommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
"That's the magic of revisions - every cut is necessary, and every cut hurts, but something new always grows." — Kelly Barnhill
#writing #editing #revision #writinglife #quotes #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
A Writing Compass For a Writing Life: Which Way is North? writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/your...
#writing #writinglife #writingcommunity
wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
In the beginning of your novel do you offer a feeling of forward momentum and emotional energy? This will keep readers reading.
#writing #novels #momentum #writingtips #writingcommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
“A great novel, rather than discouraging me, simply makes me want to write.” — Madeleine L’Engle #writing #reading #authors #quote #WritingCommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
What Does it Mean to Have a Compelling Voice in Your Story? janefriedman.com/what-does-it...
#writing #writingtips #voice #writingcommunity
wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
Consider that each of your scenes read like a mini-story, with a beginning, middle and end, which follows the basic structure of initial conflict, complication and resolution. #writing #novel #writingtips #WritingCommunity
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wendytokunaga.bsky.social
Wendy Tokunaga @wendytokunaga.bsky.social · 12d
"My writing process, such that it is, consists of a lot of noodling, procrastinating, dawdling and avoiding." — Amy Bloom
#writing #writinglife #quotes #writingcommunity